#+SETUPFILE: ../../../template/level-2.org
#+OPTIONS: toc:auto ^:nil
#+TITLE: The MacGuffins: Act 5 Whittier Arcology
#+Description: The MacGuffins: Whittier Arcology.


* Introduction

This story loosely takes some inspiration from Beowulf, both from
Grendel and the dragon. It starts out with a partially unrelated task
of gather corporate research secrets. After that the PCs face multiple
Grendel-like/Grendel's Mother-like androids. Then while searching to
defeat their origin they eventually face a dragon.


* Summary

Doctor Evelyn Vance worked for Daifin R&D to make technological use of
magical properties that had manifested since Apophis. She came to
Whittier in the early 2060s on a joint contract with Askkon Inc to
utilize some of their drill samples from the arctic. Dr Gavin Castle,
who went simply by "Gavin", worked along side her to assist any
research, but also to ensure Daifin did not monopolize any of the
findings.

Doctor Vance developed a new technology called M-Paper that could
encapsulate a magical spell. Most early versions of the technomagical
M-Paper execute their property as soon as they are observed by another
sentient being. The two doctors decided to store them in cases to make
it obvious of their contents.

Before they had all been catalogued for shipping, Gavin murdered
Doctor Vance and reported to Daifin she had died in a lab accident. He
attempted to use a portal spell to hide the body, but the M-Paper
containing the portal spell malfunctioned. Instead he hid her body in
the lab.

Gavin began selling the cases illegally on the web, also betraying
Askkon. He spread all sorts of lies about the abilities behind them,
calling them the MacGuffins, though some of them were indeed very
powerful.

Big Mac traveled to Whittier to buy up all the stock, but only managed
to buy one of the MacGuffins. But when Gavin found out he worked for
Daifin, he assume Big Mac was an assassin and tried and failed to have
him kill him by hiring an assissin.

However, Gavin did not know that Doctor Vance had a canary. While
working on the M-Paper, Daifin had tasked her to reanimate the
abandoned US military base Silvertower, deep underground beneath a
radio tower, located south of Whittier. The US military originally
built the base to construct an army of robots to fight arctic threats
in the 2030s, previous to the appearance of androids in everyday
society. Doctor Vance had suspected Gavin might betray her. Upon her
death, her comlink transmitted the final moments of her life to
Siltertower where her drones reactivated the facility to sent
assassins to deal with Gavin. It also sent a message to a close
personal friend of hers, retired SPD Chief Tony.

Gavin eventually discovered the source of the assassins and left
Whittier for Silvertower.

Months later, Askkon became suspicious and learned that Gavin had gone
missing. They hired a group of expert bounty hunters to track him
down.

Enter the players: Around that same time, the PCs come to the Whittier
Arcology to steal a technomagical case from a lab. When they get to
the lab, in the middle of an office suit owned by Askkon Inc, an
explosion rocks the arcology and the elevators lock down. Two drones
passing as sentient androids have stormed the offices looking for
Gavin Castle, an employee of Askkon Inc.

Shortly thereafter, another series of drones passing as androids
attack the outside of the arcology near the docks where Gavin owns a
boat. A combat medic, Aran Nanoq informs them this has happened
several times over the last two months and hires the PCs to find out
more information.


* Dramatis Personae

In approximate order of appearance:

- Billy Ehm Gruff
- Hiding Dwarf
- Hiding Ork
- Hiding Android
- Android Spy 1
- Android Spy 2
- Remains of Doctor Vance
- Grendroid 1
- Grendroid 2
- Grendroid 3
- Aran Nanoq
- Gary the Bounty Hunter
- Grimace the Silver
- Elf Bounty Hunter 1
- Elf Bounty Hunter 2
- Ork Bounty Hunter
- Gavin Castle
- Grendroid 4
- Mother Grendroid
- Incomplete Grendroid 5
- Office Staff Androids


* Hooks

In-universe, the following hooks alone or in combination should allow
players to seemlessly add this story to their adventure. Perhaps they
arrive by airship in Anchorage and then take the train, through the
mountains, to Whittier.


** Hook 1 Retracing Big Mac

Big Cheese has hired the party to return Big Mac's stolen case.


** Hook 2 Following Chief Tony

The party has followed clues they received from investigating the
death of Chief Tony.


** Hook 3 Steal Incriminating Evidence

Agent Smithereens convertly hires the PCs come to the Whittier
Arcology to steal a technomagical case from a lab to gain evidence for
Daifin criminal activity. If Big Mac still lives, he will accompany
the party.


** Hook 4 Garra has a job

The players receive a lead from Garra that an associate of her's,
Billy Ehm Gruff, has some profitable information from his previous
employer. He'll wait at the Beebop Pub.


* Chapters

The Marine Arcology rises 44 floors above the ocean and goes down 20
floors underground. The ground floor sits mostly over the water and
has a higher ceiling to accomodate smaller sea vessels. At its base,
it measures approximately 150 x 300 meters (500 x 1000 ft). Harbor
Road also goes through the arcology via tunnel. It has a population of
about one million, largely refugees from all over the world. The
engineers who built the arcology designed it to withstand tsunamis and
megatsunamis. It has sloping sides to allow water to wash up and then
around, deflecting the force from large amounts of fast moving water.


** Chapter 1 Askkon Inc

The players enter the arcology. The surroundings quickly change from
the small marine town to an enclosed arctic metropolis.


*** Ye Ol' Beebop Haus Pub Inn

Happening place no matter what time of day with tourists from all
over, including some from California.

If Big Mac can talk:

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
I know that guy. That's Billy Ehm Gruff and he works for Askkon Inc. He
looks totally smashed.
#+END_QUOTE


Gruff is a stereotypical human office worker in his late 50s. He has
still has his employee badge and says today was his last day, fired
for no reason. He seems like he's enjoying the time off work rather
than sobbing over losing his job.

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
They asked me to clear out my desk by the end of the day, but I don't
even care! I'm going to drunk until I have fives more drunks! Keep the
desk, I say.
#+END_QUOTE


*** Ground Floor 0

The only practical way to access this floor requires a badge, which
the party can get from the drunk Gruff.


**** Map

- A :: Lifts
- B :: Lift Service shaft.
- C :: Utilities shaft.
- D :: Single occupant washrooms.
- E :: Office Suit 10, S-10
- F :: Office Suit 20, S-20
- G :: Office Suit 30, S-30
- H :: Main Office Suit 42, S-42
- Z :: Main hallway

#+BEGIN_SRC text

##############################
#Z......#H...................#
#.......#....................#
#.......+....................#
#.......+....................#
#.......#....................#
#.......#....................#
#..######....................#
#..#G...#....................#
#..+....#....................#
#..#....#....................#
#..######....................#
#..#F...#....................#
#..+....#....................#
#..#....#....................#
#..######....................#
#..#E...#...................*#
#..+....#######..............#
#..#....#D.#D.#..............#
#..######+###+################
#.....................+A#B#C.#
*.....................###.#..#
#.....................+A#.#..#
##############################

#+END_SRC


**** Main hallway

The party can smell smoke and hear the faint sound of fans. The point
of interest on the far wall, opposite the lifts, has the map directory
of the floor. As soon as the party makes it to the directory, an
explosion down the hall shakes the whole floor. They will smell smoke
and hear screams coming from down the hallway. A smaller explosion
behind them will come from one of the lifts. This will leave one lift
damaged beyond use and the other one locked down.


**** Washrooms

Empty with no sign of excessive use.


**** S-10

A dwarf, ork, and android cower behind a desk. Scared, they shout out
they have already called emergency (fire fighters and combat medics,
though they will obviously take some time).

The room has its own wireless access point and a hard line.

The male dwarf looks especially short.

The female ork seems average height, but has larger than normal teeth,
even for an ork.

The short, feminine android appears just as scared as the other office
workers, but is actually a corporate double agent from Daifin, but it
will not break its cover unless it sees a MacGuffin case.


**** S-20 and S-30

Both are locked and completely empty. Maybe someone was moving out?


**** S-42

From the outside, light shines through from the other side of
translucent, frosted glass double doors.

When the doors open, read this:

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
When the doors open, the smoke dissipates and the sprinkler system
slowly shuts off. A recorded feminine voice says, "Thank you for using
Askkon fire suppression systems for your office needs". The group sees
a large meeting room that recently suffered an explosion.
#+END_QUOTE

The point of interest, the floor has a hole that goes down to the
lower floor.


*** Basement Floor 1

Everything on this floor is empty, with the exception of the main lab.


**** Map

- A :: Lifts
- B :: Lift Service shaft.
- C :: Utilities shaft.
- D :: Single occupant washrooms.
- E :: Office Suit 110, S-110
- F :: Office Suit 120, S-120
- G :: Office Suit 130, S-130
- H :: Laboratory Suit 142, S-142
- I :: Decontamination corridor for the lab
- J :: Closet storage for the lab
- Z :: Main hallway

#+BEGIN_SRC text

##############################
#Z......#I..#H...............#
#.......#...#................#
#.......+...#................#
#.......+...#................#
#.......#...#................#
#.......#...#................#
#..#######+##................#
#..#G...#....................#
#..+....#....................#
#..#....#....................#
#..######....................#
#..#F...#....................#
#..+....#....................#
#..#....#....................#
#..######....................#
#..#E...#...................*#
#..+....########++###++###++##
#..#....#D.#D.#J...#J...#J...#
#..######+###+################
#.....................+A#B#C.#
*.....................###.#..#
#.....................+A#.#..#
##############################

#+END_SRC


**** TODO S-142

The players will find two hostile androids who have infiltrated the
Askkon geological lab by blasting through the floor from above to
steal trade secrets. They will avoid capture at any cost, even their
own lives.

Notes about the lab:

- Obviously a lab
- Room smells acidic
- Chunks of rock/stone all over
- DC 10 to ID the acid bath stations on the north side of the room.


***** Closets J-a, J-b, J-c

- J-a, farthest on the left, has the body of a winged woman with
  massive decay and a small, familiar looking briefcase
- DC 15 find a comlink
- DC 20 find a piece of m-paper


** Chapter 2 Tracking Android Raiders


*** Arcology Docks

After sneaking out of the Askkon Inc part of the arcology, past the
emergency workers, the most direct route takes the party out to the
docks. There they will hear screams from mariners and engage three 3
meter tall heavily armed androids. After defending the docks outside
the arc, one of the emergency workers, Aran Nanoq, offers to hire the
party to track down the attackers.

Aran Nanoq is a male elf combat medic working for the Whittier
Arcology Emergency Response Unit. He says the androids have attacked
before. They come from the south. The only thing down there is an old
US military base called Silvertower.


**** Grendroid

| Stat           |             Rating |
|----------------+--------------------|
| Size           |              Large |
| Being          |            Android |
| Align          |    Chaotic Neutral |
| AC             |                 15 |
| HP             |                 60 |
| Speed          |                  6 |
| STR            |                 16 |
| DEX            |                 12 |
| CON            |                 18 |
| INT            |                 10 |
| WIS            |                 10 |
| CHA            |                 10 |
| Weapon         |       Melee strike |
| Limited Weapon |   Arm Cannon, 2d12 |
| Dead Switch    | Fall on enemy, 3d6 |


*** Whittier Region Map

This map not to scale.

- A :: Whittier Marine Arcology
- B :: Bounty Hunter Campsite
- C :: Cave train
- D :: Warehouse
- E :: Silvertower Radio Tower
- F :: Control Annex
- G :: Summit Trail
- H :: Base Trail
- Y :: Harold Street Pub (On Harbor Rd)
- Z :: Begich Towers

#+BEGIN_SRC text

                    ##########
                    'A       '
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
                    #        #
====================#        #==========
                    #        #
....................'        '..........
          #Y# ##.   #        #      .
              ##.   #+######+#    .
                ..................
                .    .
                .    .
                .Z## .
                ...............
#############################B.
  .............................
##H#######''##;;;#G##;;;;;;;;;;
##.#######C ######;############
##.###########''##;############
  .          [D_]
  ..............
         .......
         E#....
         ##.F#.
########################################

#+END_SRC


*** Gary the Bounty Hunter

The PCs will optionally meet up with a group hunting down a burned
corporate employee named Gavin. Gary, their leader, offers 1k credits
per photo and says Gavin is very dangerous.

The group consists of a human (Gary), troll, orc, and two elves. All
of them use nigh absolutely secure electronics thanks to various
state-of-the-art faraday cages. All of them have magical powers of one
kind or another.


*** Landslide

At this point the weather gets much colder. Anyone without cold
weather clothing must Attempt a CON Save 10 to avoid a level of
exhaustion. 

Ahead the path has a landslide of mixed snow, trees, soil, and
rocks. If the players want to continue along the main path, they will
need to Attempt athletics or acrobatics to pass. If they fail, they
fall and take 6d6 damage from the fall.

If the players search the area around the landslide they might find
the hidden cave (below) or a way around the landslide to continue
along the mountain path (below).


*** TODO Cave train

If the players search the area around the landslide they might find
the hidden cave, which goes deep into the side of the mountain. Inside
the cave, the players can avoid further exposure to the cold.

Deeper into the cave, a hidden, inclined rail track and car can take
the party through the mountain to the Warehouse (below). The rail and
car have been carefully cammoflagued to look like the rest of the
inside of the cave, except for three protruding terminals on pedistals
coming up from the floor. If the group has picked up the comlink from
S-142, the terminal will speak aloud "Welcome Doctor Vance" before
advancing the car.


*** Mountain path

If the players continue along the path either by climbing over or
avoiding the landslide, they will find a survey microwave-size drone
that seems to have lost all power. If they can reactivate it, they
will notice the return-to-owner tag, a "Dr Castle" who works for
Askkon Inc.


** TODO Chapter 3 Silvertower

The Silvertower facility is a radio tower with a warehouse and control
annex.


*** TODO Warehouse

Everything is rusted up or in bad shape.


*** TODO Radio Tower

If the PCs investigate the tower they will find it has a radar jamming
device and a military grade cloaking device that visual hides the
facility beyond the surrounding mountain ridges, making it nigh
impossible for satellites to photograph it. These are the actual
functions of the radio tower, aside from transceiving military
signals. Nothing is salvageable.


*** Control Annex

The party finds a freezing male human named Gavin trying to use the
radio tower. Gavin suffers from hypothermia and sits on the verge of
death.

Gavin explains he had ventured into the facility to go "treasure
hunting" but barely escaped with his life. But he won't tell them he's
been hiding for more like weeks, not just a few days.

The door at the back of the annex leads to a stairwell that goes down
underground. Gavin will explain he fought a very hostile android down
there.


** Chapter 4 Underground Silvertower

Underground Silvertower and United States both happen to share the
same name of US.


*** TODO Map

This map not to scale.

- A :: Stairwell
- B :: Cave 2
- C :: The Workshop
- D :: Receiving
- E :: The Rec Area
- F :: Cubeland
- G :: Cave 7
- H :: Cave 8
- Z :: Control annex

#+BEGIN_SRC text

###########      "                     ########################
#Z........#      "                     #H........+..+G........#
#.......###      "                     #.........####.........#
#.......+>#      "                     #.........#  #.........#
###########      "                     ###########  #####+#####
                 "                                      #.#
                 "                                      #.#
                 "                                  #####+#####
                 "                                  #F........#
                 "                                  #.........#
""""""""""""""""""                                  #.........#
                                                    #####+#####
                                                         #.#
                                                         #.#
                                                    #####+#####
                                                    #E........#
###########  ###########  ###########  ##############.........#
#<#A......####B........####C........####D........+..+.........#
#+#.......+..+.........+..+.........+..+.........##############
#.........####.........####.........####.........#
###########  ###########  ###########  ###########

#+END_SRC


*** TODO Cave 1, Stairwell

Parts of a large, damaged android rest on the floor near the bottom of
the stairs and the doorway.


*** TODO Cave 2

Another, more intact, but equally destroyed android lies on the
floor. It looks like it's missing pieces, either it was not fully
built or someone started salvaging parts after it was destroyed.


*** Cave 3, The Workshop

Two large androids are building more androids. One looks much larger
than the other, which matches the Grendroid appearance.


**** Mother Grendroid

| Stat           |             Rating |
|----------------+--------------------|
| Size           |              Large |
| Being          |            Android |
| Align          |    Chaotic Neutral |
| AC             |                 15 |
| HP             |                 80 |
| Speed          |                  8 |
| STR            |                 16 |
| DEX            |                 12 |
| CON            |                 18 |
| INT            |                 10 |
| WIS            |                 14 |
| CHA            |                 10 |
| Weapon         |       Melee strike |
| Limited Weapon |   Arm Cannon, 2d12 |
| Dead Switch    | Fall on enemy, 6d6 |


*** Cave 4, Receiving

Crates and boxes lie in huge stacks. The air feels significantly
colder in this room. A freight lift leads back up to a hidden hatch on
the surface, east of the tower and the annex.


*** TODO Cave 5, The Rec Area

This area has recreational furnishings for non-androids such as
refrigerators and a kitchen. It also has a ping-pong table, three
pinball machines, and couches.

The PCs should get the feeling that someone had recently been
eating. In fact, Gavin had hid and eaten through the remaining food
before escaping, but he will not volunteer this information.


*** Cave 6, Cubeland

/See the [[file:../places/maps/Silvertower-Cave6.org][map]]./

Assume the PCs enter from the south door:

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
The double doors gracefuly open to a hallway that goes both to the
right and left. Each side wraps around to a large, open office suite
full of computer workstations, with an inner wall on the west side of
the room displaying an array of video displays and AR emitters. Each
workstation has an android working busily.
#+END_QUOTE


The androids in this room are not completely sentient, though they are
currently working to decrypt a copy of The Life of Mister
Interesting. They are weak in battle, but their numbers will make them
annoying. They will attempt to apprehend Gavin if they spot him.

Treat each android as a 2 HP, 10 AC, 10 Score/+0 Mods, speed 4,
unarmed damage 1d4.

After the androids are "gone" Gavin will prompt the PCs:

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
I never made it past them into the next room, but that's definitely
where the goods are kept.
#+END_QUOTE


Gavin will insist they continue on to Cave 7, but will not
automatically volunteer any details other than "it has the treasure".

The door to Cave 7 is locked, but in rough shape. DC 10 to unlock, it
is old and rusted. Health 5 AC 10 to knock it down.


*** Cave 7

/See the [[file:../places/maps/Silvertower-Cave7.org][map]]./

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
The room feels much larger than the others particularly because the
ceiling goes up more than three times the height of the previous
room. The middle has empty floor, but around the perimeter the room
has tables and workbenches all around, covered in tools, papers, and
various electronics, some in states of disassembly.
#+END_QUOTE


Gavin will walk to the table opposite the entrance, against the
wall. The table has a holographic emitter that disguises desk
drawers. Gavin will attempt to access those drawers to steal what
looks like yet another MacGuffin.  Once the case opens, he will absorb
a mystical light that will transform him into a larger, bruttish
looking reptilian beast. The holograms on the table will reveal the
desk drawers, various clutter about the room, as well as heavily
damaged walls, presumably from a previous battle with other
androids. He will thank the group saying he could not have made it
back in without them. Gavin will motion with his hands, and all of the
doors in the complex will close and lock until he has been defeated.

After his defeat, but before his death, Gavin will explain that he
accidentally activated the android facility while searching for the
last MacGuffin, which grants temporary a draconic form. He admits to
killing the Doctor Vance who was working for both Daifin and Askkon,
and stealing her technology, namely the M-Paper, selling it back to
the US military. He will attempt to take the case to his grave. But he
never made it into the last room. Finally, he will curse them and die
in a toxic, corrosive puddle that dissolves the case in front of the
door back to Cave 6. The doors' locks will unlock with an obvious,
loud series of clicks. The PCs can certain try to go back that way,
but they risk poisoning themselves if they get too close. They had
better try Cave 8.


**** Gravgon

| Stat           |               Rating |
|----------------+----------------------|
| Size           |                Large |
| Being          |               Dragon |
| Align          |                 Evil |
| AC             |                   15 |
| HP             |                   60 |
| Speed          |                    6 |
| STR            |                   18 |
| DEX            |                   14 |
| CON            |                   18 |
| INT            |                   18 |
| WIS            |                   10 |
| CHA            |                   12 |
| Weapon         |         Melee strike |
| Limited Weapon | Fire breath x4, 2d10 |
| Dead Switch    |   Fall on enemy, 3d6 |
| Corpse         |          Toxic Blood |
| Drops          |              Comlink |


***** Toxic Blood

Occupying the spaces that have this expose the player to make a DC 15
CON Save, else suffer one level of exhaustion due to a sickening
feeling and take 1d10 acid damage. If they roll a 1 one of their
exposed/equipped items starts to slowly disintegrate and become
unusable (such as their boots or whatever they have in their
hands). Personal protective equipment such as a hazmat suit will
protect their other items, but the suit will be unwearable once they
take it off later.


**** Gavin's comlink

Not effectively encrypted and easily cracked with a DC 10 arcana or
investigation.

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
[me] < I downed Tony's airship.

[BC] > good

[BC] > I'll have your payment ready

[BC] > as soon as you make it out of there alive
#+END_QUOTE


*** Cave 8

The room has a mess of scientific lab supplies, electrical hardware,
and filing cabinets. Close to the entrance, a desk has a paper
airplane with a QR code it is actually a piece of m-paper that will
transport the group back to the bathroom of the Fenris Pub inside the
archology if they simply try to use it.

DC 14 to decrypt the message of the QR code. If they PCs have Vance's
comlink, it will ring and the following message will play. Doctor
Vance set it up to automatically play if any of her other clues such
as the the M-Paper were reunited with her comlink.

Though Doctor Vance mentions more M-Paper, all of the others have
either been destroyed or used by either Chief Tony or Gavin.

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
Tony,

If you're hearing, it probably means I'm gone. I suspect someone,
probably at Askkon or maybe even Daifin, if I've been double crossed,
has had me killed in order to steal secret of the M-Paper I was
working on with Dr Gavin Castle. I wouldn't rule him out,
either. Gavin kept calling the M-Paper the MacGuffins. Don't turn your
back on him. If left you something... You might need it... a hidden
case in my Post Office Dropbox to heal yourself, but be careful
because the first time exposure will knock you out for at least an
hour. I used a Goya Elite Briefcase... I figured they were obscure
enough that you wouldn't have one also and accidentally open up the
wrong case with your old cyber eyes. You really need to get those
replaced!

If you happen to... find what's left of me, my comlink will probably
be valuable to both the Cascadian and Alaskan governments. If for some
reason you get stuck in Silvertower, I've left a few M-Paper airplanes
about the place that will transport you back to the The Fenris Pub
inside the arcology, not far from my PO Dropbox.

-Doctor Vance
#+END_QUOTE


*** Exiting the hard way

If the PCs decide to go back the long way, traversing the remains of
Gavin, the androids will not give them any further trouble.

If they walk back along the trail or via the cave trail, they will
eventually meet up with Gary and the other bounty hunters. If the
party made a deal to supply intel, they can cash in. Either way, if
they disclose the details about Gavin's transformation and/or death,
Gary will offer a reward in exchange for an NDA.


** TODO Chapter 5 The Fenris Pub

The pub gets its name from Fenrir the owner of Fenris Co-Op. It has
anti-US and anti-Canada propaganda all over the walls mixed with flags
all the subdivisions of Alaska and the many Cascadian flag
variations. The pub looks timeless and stereotypical, something out of
any decade of the 20th century.

Billy Ehm Gruff has once again made an ass of himself and become
extremely drunk at the bar.


*** Leaving the Fenris Pub

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
Though deep inside the massive subarctic arcology, the artificial
daylight and tropical plants make it appear like a different
world. Holographic birds fly about, some of which might actually be
disguised delivery drones.
#+END_QUOTE


*** Doctor Vance's APOD

The players might decide to investigate Doctor Vance's APOD for clues,
which is just across the hallway, like a shopping mall of boutiques,
from the Fenris Pub.

Alaskans and visitors all have a government-issued Alaskan Post Office
Dropbox at their nearest known location. Residents call them "APODs"
while most foreigners call them PO Boxes or similar. Alaska
automatically moves a person's APOD and contents via drones to a new
location if they check-in to another region. In Whittier, everyone has
one inside the arcology, even folks who live outside. The Marine
Arcology has several Post Offices, throughout.

The players can use the comlink from Doctor Vance to immediately find
the correct APOD.

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
The comlink screen immediately lights up and displays an AR code with
the option to connect device or use camera. After making the
selection, the AR will highlight the APOD with the option to open or
cancel.
#+END_QUOTE

Otherwise, the players can attempt to find the APOD by other means
such as asking bystanders or APOD employees, reviewing surveilance
footage, or calling in a favour from another NPC.

The APOD contains:

- One steel flask of 195 proof alcohol
- Alaskan issued comlink
- Burner comlink w/ one one-way ticket via train and airship back to
  Seattle
- One suit of cold weather gear w/ a piece of M-Paper
- Medkit w/ 4 uses
- Compact yeast-based ration pak, 5 meals


*** Aran Nanoq has a friend of a friend

The players will hopefully remember to turn in their information or
check-in with Aran Nanoq. This can also turn into an oppurtunity to
hook into the next adventure.
